I've loved this particular series since I was a little kid. It's just an entertaining way to spend a bit of time. Gameplay continues to get more life-like - although I find some of the player faces a bit odd. Enjoy this year in the franchise a great deal!

I'm a long-time Madden NFL fan who's been with the series through its highs, like when Madden 2003 added online play, and its lows, like when they added Gameflow in Madden 11. When I got my hands on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Madden 25, at first I liked a lot of what I saw, including...

Great atmosphere; Smarter player AI; Fundamentally good football

Irritating controls; Underwhelming graphics

There are moments when Madden NFL 25 is awesome. Thanks to long-needed improvements in key areas, every type of football philosophy can be successful this season. Want to pound the ball up the middle? No problem. Feel like being a mad bomber? Fire away.

Powerful running game; Moving your franchise; Being a historical player

Occasionally bizarre physics; Too many interceptions; Rather ordinary commentary

Shunning the annual naming approach that's followed the series for most of its existence, Madden NFL 25 celebrates the beloved brand's quarter century of dominance. It shows on the game's cover, which features legendary running back Barry Sanders, as well as its loading screens, which depict...

+ Improved physics engine and control tweaks; + Owner features are a welcome career enhancement

- Dated presentational elements remain intact; ? What; no museum to browse past games?

was released with the Xbox 360 in 2005, gamers and sports nuts rejoiced in unison. Next-generation graphics combined with what was one of the best

It's hard to believe that it has been 25 years since the first game hit the shelves. The franchise has spanned over five generations of game consoles and will eventually hit its sixth generation within the next year.

Madden NFL 25 is the closest we have seen so far to re-creating the magic of Sunday. There is intensity in the pre-game intro that carries into the first snap and concludes as the last second ticks off the clock.

The NFL season is almost here, which means it is time for Ken's annual Madden review. Check it out inside.

+ Run Free is great; + Connected Careers impresses again; + Fixed Infinity Engine; + Ultimate Team is still addictive

Feels incremental; Has the tank run dry

' Since it isn't every day that a game franchise marks its silver anniversary, you expect something sublime from Madden NFL 25. This may be the most respected series in all of gaming, with a pedigree that goes back to before Ronald Reagan left the White House, so it isn't unreasonable to expect the...

Still a very comprehensive and full-featured treatment of NFL football; Undeniably exciting to play at times; especially on offense; New run free and heat-seeking tackling offer control scheme enhancements

Core gameplay barely changed from last year; Offense still overpowered and defense still not smart enough; Disappointing presentation; New Connected Franchise mode lacks depth

Parents need to know that Madden NFL 25 is a sports simulation that tries to model all aspects of pro football from play calling to running, passing, defending, and tackling to team management.